ecclesiology test

ecclesiology

the study of the church

• the church is essential to christianity & christian spirituality.

our individual relationship with God is always made possible by our play within the .

church community

in catholicism, there is no “ but not “.

spiritual, religious

what is the church?

• “ekklesia”

• greek verb “ek-ka-lein”=”to call out”

• refers to a group of people who are called and gathered together by God to have communion with him.

what are the key points for ekklesia?

• group

• communion w/ God

• called & gathered together by God

what is communion?

a relation of unity that preserves good difference.

• sharing together in a common unity

• unity of love

eucharist

called “communion” because thats what the eucharist makes.

the 3 meanings of the church

in the christian usage, the word “church” has 3 meanings:

1.) Entire community

2.) A local community

3.) A community

entire community

• God’s people around the world

• “universal church”

• they are united in faith & baptism

a local community

• “local church”

• referred to as a “diocese”

a community

• often a “parish”

• gathered for the celebration of mass

diocese

a particular area that has a bishop in charge of priests working with him.

the key to understanding “the church” is the concept of .

communion

• all of catholicism is about God seeking communion with you and you responding to form communion w/ God and each other.

the idea of the church always includes relationship with .

God and others

God created the world in order to .

establish the church

shepard of hermas

the church was created first of all, for this reason she is old. and for her sake the world was made.

• gathering creation into communion/relationship with him and each other.

the story of scripture can be read as .

the story of the church

• foreshadowed in OT Israel

• revealed on pentecost

• completed at end

the paschal mystery

passion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.

• the church as the gathering together of all people cannot fully appear until after this.

• sin is the cause of the scattering of humankind (the fall to Babel).

• sin must be defeated before humans can be gathered together.

trinitarian key

God is the father, the son, and the holy spirit.

• 3 divine persons, 1 divine essence.

• each person is equally divine.

• each divine person is entirely distinct as a person.

• each person is because of relationship with other two.

• the father is because he eternally generates the son out of love.

• the son is because he is eternally generated out of love.

• the spirit is because he is eternally ‘breathed’ by father and son out of love.

• eternal ‘whirlpool’ of love.

if God is trinity…

• then God’s being is one of communion, relationship, and love.

• then God creates to gather us into trinitarian communion/relationship/love.

the two dimensions of the church

the mission and of being

• shape lives of members of the church.

the mission

• church on the way

• bringing others into the communion of God and humankind.

of being

• the church as it is in its heart and will be entirely.

• simply being the communion of God and humankind.

salvation

the fullness of communion w/ God and one another.

• we are saved from sin and death and for eternal love/life.

sacramentum

the visible sign of the church

mysterium

the invisible sign of the church

hierarchy

“holy order”

• maintains the unity and mission.

why is the church often compared to Noah’s ark?

it has within herself the fullness of the means of salvation (grace).

• sacraments

• revelation

• holy orders

the church is called and gathered together and then sent out to do what?

• evangelize

• initiate

• combat evil

• to bring salvation (communion) to the world.

why is there no salvation outside of the church?

the church is salvation

• there is no salvation outside of the invisible communion that the visible church reveals.

what about those ‘outside’ of the church?

“God desires that all be saved and come to knowledge of the truth”. Timothy 2:4

• why?

• Christ died for all

• grace precedes entry into the church

• all desire communion with God

• all can live well, make decisions according to conscience

• rays of truth found throughout the world and human cultures

transubstantiation

you become a part of Christ

• helps God to dwell in us, and us to dwell in God.

• Changing of reality of bread & wine into body and blood of Christ

• So that

• People can be changed into members of Christ’s body

• Jesus + Church= “whole Christ”

mystical

the church is the body of Christ

• our union with Christ and one another is invisible

• eucharist makes the church

virtue

habits of excellence being a good person of temperance.

temple of holy spirit

• Spirit animates and sanctifies the church

• Active in liturgy and sacraments

• Empowers members to grow in virtue

• Soul;human body;spirit;church